Vehicle brake and jack system



June 29,1948. FHSRAGAL I I I 2,444,272

VEHICLE BRAKE AND JAQK SYSTEM Filed July so, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n v l l fi Cigp m 4- FIGS mmvnm m SRATGAL I ATTORNEYS June 29, 1948; r SRAGAL 2,444,272

I VEHICLE BRAKE AND'JACK SYSTEB Filed July so, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\\\\X\\\\\\\\\\ a0 29 I; la

87 4o I INVEVTOR.

' FRANK SRAGAL ATTORNEYS v for the hydraulic jacks;

Patented June 29, 1948 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE v vnmcpa A12 3: AcK SYSTEM Applica tfi ofirlfrtutfloz 4 Claims. (Cl. 30H) This invention relates generally to motor vehi the Jacks by the usual manually operable master cylinder forming a part of the brake system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a selector conveniently located in the vehicle body for operating the hydraulic jacks and normally locked in a position wherein the master cylinder is connected to the brakes and associated stop-light switch.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selector of the above type requiring the use of the ignition key and having provision for preventing withdrawal of the key except when the selector is in a position to operatively connect the master cylinder to the brakes and stop-light switch. Thus, accidental operation of the vehicle while any oneof the ground engaging wheels is in its raised position is prevented.

The foregoing as well as other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a vehicle equipped with hydraulic jacks embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the vehicle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the control Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the hydraulic jacks;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a master cylinder equipped with the control mechanism for the hydraulic jacks;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the master cylinder;

Figure 7 is an elevation of one of the control p Figure 8 is an elevational view of still another 01 the control parts Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the selector plate;

' abutment 22 is formed of a resilient material and' draulic braking system i2. The hydraulic brak- "ing system l2 comprises a friction brake ll of any accepted design for each ground engaging wheel II and a master cylinder ll suitably supported on the frame ID of the vehicle.

Upon reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, it

'will be noted that the master cylinder I4 is. of

orthodox design in that it is provided with a cylinder l5 and a reservoir Ii communicating with the cylinder through a port ll. A piston II is supported in the cylinder ii for sliding movement and is connected to a brake pedal I! by a rod 20. The piston is normally urged to its retracted position by means of a coil spring 2i having one. end engaging the piston and having the opposite end engaging an abutment 22. The

provided with a projection 28 which extends axially inwardly through the opening 26 and has an abutment 29 secured to the free end thereof. A coil spring 30 is located between the abutment .29 and the valve member 22 for normally holdmg the disk 21 in closed relation to the opening 28. With the above construction, it will be noted that downward movement of the brake pedal it moves the piston l8 against the action of the spring 2| and displaces hydraulic fluid medium in the cylinder ii in a direction to open the disk valve 21 against the action of the spring SIL- As a result, hydraulic fluid medium is displaced through the outletopening 24. As will be presently set forth, the' outlet opening 24 is normally connected to the brakes l3 and the stop-light switch (not shown) for operating the latter. Upon release of the brake operating pedal IS, the spring 2| returns the piston and hydraulic d med um ilows from the reservoir into the 3 cylinder IS in advance of the piston in the event additional fluid is required in thebraking system.

' Supported on the vehicle frame l8 a jacent each ground-engaging wheel is a hydraulic jack 3i. This lack comprisesa cylinder 32 having a bracket 33 at the upper end attachable to the.

vehicle frame and having a cap 84.for closing the upper end of the cylinder. A piston 35 is slidably mounted in the cylinder and is connected to a downwardly extending rod 36. The rod 38 projects through the lower end of the cylinder 32 and is slidably supported by a guide substantially above the ground.

The upper ends of the jack cylinders 32 are respectively connected to a chamber 40 formed -by a recess M in the rear wall of the master cylinder and a plate d2, which is clamped to the rearwall by studs 43. The chamber 40 is in direct communication with the outlet port 24 in order to receive hydraulic fluid medium from the master cylinder upon manipulation of the brake pedal is. As shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the plate 42 comprises four sets of ports indicatedby the reference characters 44, 45, 4B and 41. These ports are concentrically arranged with respect to an opening 48 in the plate 42 and are circumferentially spaced from each other. The pair; of ports 44 are connected to a conduit 49 having the opposite end communicating with the upper end of the left front-jack cylinder 50. The

ther provided with a key-operated pointer H suitably connected to the cable 65 for rotating the disk BL- The lock mechanism for the selector or pointer H is indicated in Figures 9 to 10 inclusive of the drawings and is identical to the ignition lock 10, so that the same key will serve for both locks.

As shown in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, the lock comprises a tubular casing'12 and a barrel l3 rotatably supported in the casing. The barrel it carries tumblers 14 which are adapted to project into diametrically opposed recesses 15 formed in the inner surface of the casing. The

. arrangement is such that when the key 16 is inserted in the barrel, the tumblers I4 are retracted indicate the various positions at which the pointer must be moved in order to eflect the desired operation. It will be noted that the key 16 can only be retracted from the look when the pointer is in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, wherein it indicates the letter "N." When the pointer is in this position, the disk valve BI is in its neutral position wherein the master cylinder is connected to the brakes l3 and stop-light switch. In allother positions, the key 88 is retained in the lock for theselector, and since this key must be used to turn on the ignition, it follows that the danger of accidentally operating the vehicle 'when one of the jacks is in its pair of ports communicate witha conduit 5! having the opposite end connected to the right front lack cylinder 82. The back right jack cylinder 52 is connected to the pair; of ports 46 by a conduit 54 and the back left jack cylinder 55 is connected to the pair of ports 4'! by a conduit 56. It will further be noted from Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings that the plate 42 is provided with a pair of ports 51 and 58 at diametrically opposite sides of the opening 48. The port 51 is connected to the usual stoplight switch (not shown) by a conduit Bland the port 58 is connected to the brakes ii of the vehicle by a conduit 60.

The iiowoi hydraulic fluid medium through disk valve 6i supported in the chamber 40 against cable 05 for rotation by the latter. As shown particularly in Figure 8 of the drawings, the valve 1 disk II is further provided with a pair-of openings O6 and 81 respectively registerabie with the .51 and 58 in the plate 42.

ports It is pointed out at this time that when the valve disk BI is in a position wherein the openings 86 and 61 respectively register with the ports 51 and-ll, the opening 63 is in a neutral position,

or in other words, is out of registration with any one of the ports 44 to 41 inclusive. Thus, in the normal positionef the valve disk ii, the master cylinder is connected-to the brakes l3 and stop-light switchinot shown).

The valve disk ii is operated by a selector 68 the . 50 .,the ports in the plate 42 is controlled, by a rotary raised position is prevented.

From the foregoing it will be noted that when it is desired -to.operatethe left front Jack-50, the sele'ctor is rotated from the position shown in Figure 3'to the left, so that the pointer indicates the indicia "FL". During the above rotation of the selector. the disk valve BI is rotated by the cable 55 to close the ports 51 and 58 and to register the opening 63 with the receiving port 3i of the pair of ports 44. Thus the receiving port BI is con left front wheel H of the vehicle of! the ground.

In order to prevent return of fluid to'thejmaster cylinder when the latter is released by the brake pedal, a check valve 82 is provided in the receiving port 8i. Although the conduit 49 is also connected to the return port by the branch 33, fluid is prevented from escaping through this port by the disk valve 6i and the Jack 50 is thereby fluid lockedln its operative position. On the other hand, when'itis desired to lower the left front vehicle wheel, the disk BI is rotated by the selector to register the opening 63 with the return port 80. This-action relieves the pressure on the piston of the jack 50 and permits fluid froin the Jack cylinder to flow past the check valve 82 to the master cylinder under the force produced by the supported in a convenient position in the vehicle 7 and having a plate 89, which also'includes the tension spring 38., As a result, the ground engaging pad on the Jack 50 is lit-ted by the spring 29 to its raised position.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the receiving ports 84, 85 and Q8 of the pairs of ports 45 to 41, inclusive, are provided with simiis also called to the fact that the disk valve is yieldably held in each of its various positions of adjustment by a spring-pressed detent 81 supported in the end wall of the master cylinder adjacent the periphery of the disk valve for successively engaging in recesses-B8 formed in the adjacent face of the disk. 1

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a vehicle having ground engaging wheels, the combination with a hydraulic brake system for the wheels including a master cylinder and a hydraulic brake for each wheel, of a hydraulic jack carried by the vehicle adjacent each ground engaging wheel, a chamber communicating with the master cylinder and having an end wall provided with pairs of openings spaced from each with the openings in said end wall, and a check valve in the receiving opening to prevent the return of fluid therethrough.

2. In a vehicle having ground engaging wheels, the combination with a hydraulic brake system for the wheels including a master cylinder and a hydraulic brake for each wheel, of a hydraulic jack carried by the vehicle adjacent each ground engaging wheel, a chamber communicating with the master cylinder and having an end wall provided with pairs of openings spaced from each other along a circle, one opening of each pair being a return opening and the other opening being a receiving opening, conduits respectively connecting the pairs of openings to the hydraulic lacks, a valve having a disk supported in the chamber for rotation and having an opening successively registrable with the openings in said end wall of the chamber, means operable in an intermediate position of the disk wherein the opening in the latter is out of registration with said openings to connect the master cylinder to said brakes,

and a check valve in the receiving opening to prevent the return of fluid therethrough.

3. In a vehicle having ground engaging wheels. the combination with a hydraulic brake system for the wheels including a master cylinder and a hydraulic brake for each wheel, of a hydraulic jack carried by the vehicleadjacent each ground engaging wheel, a chamber communicating with the master cylinder and having an end wall provided with pairs of openings spaced from each other along a circle, one opening of each pair be ing a return opening and the other opening being a receiving opening, conduits respectively connecting the pairs of openings to the hydraulic jacks, a valve having a disk supported in the chamber for rotation and having an opening successively registrable with the openings in said end wall of the chamber, means operable in an inter media-ts position of the disk wherein the opening in the latter is out of registration with said openings to connect the master cylinder to said brakes, key operated meansfor locking the disk in said intermediate position, and a check valve in the receiving opening to prevent the return of fluid therethrough.

4. In a vehicle having ground engaging wheels, the combination with a hydraulic brake system for the wheels including a master cylinder and a hydraulic brake for each wheel, of a hydraulic jack carried by the vehicle, a chamber communicating with the mastercylinder and having a pair of openings, one opening of the pair being a receiving opening and the other being a return opening, conduits connecting the pair of openings to the hydraulic jack, a valve having a disk supported in the chamber for rotation and havin an opening successively registrable with the openopening therethrough with the openings in said end wall, and a check'valve inthe receivlng'opening to prevent the return of the fluid therethrough.

FRANK SRAGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

